100 hotshots expected to arrive to fight Brown Fire

Chayse Vance was a young lady with an eye for art and a heart of gold, according to her family. She hung herself after a stay at the Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital, which has a shocking number of violations. (Source: Vance Family)

Chayse Vance was a young lady with an eye for art and a heart of gold, according to her family. She hung herself after a stay at the Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital, which has a shocking number of violations. (Source: Vance Family)

One Tucson hospital stands out in Arizona for its violations. Our investigative team logged and analyzed piles of data from the state department of health services to find out who's to blame and what's being done.

One Tucson hospital stands out in Arizona for its violations. Our investigative team logged and analyzed piles of data from the state department of health services to find out who's to blame and what's being done.

Borderland Construction in Tucson says it needs 100 workers today to fill its needs but can't find them. Despite a starting salary of $15 an hour and the potential to earn $30 an hour by driving heavy machinery, the jobs to unfilled.

Borderland Construction in Tucson says it needs 100 workers today to fill its needs but can't find them. Despite a starting salary of $15 an hour and the potential to earn $30 an hour by driving heavy machinery, the jobs to unfilled.

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It's a sleepless night for many Cochise County residents, as they keep a close eye on the plumes of smoke and flames burning in the Huachuca Mountains near their homes.

The fire is burning 8,000 feet high up in the mountains, in the Garden Canyon, on the north side of the mountains in the Fort Huachuca Army Installation.

The plumes of smoke were visible more than 30 miles away.

As of Monday evening, forest service officials said the fire had burned about 300 acres of land. About 70 firefighters, including state crews and two hotshot crews were in the area, and about five aircraft including a DC-10 airplane were helping fight the flames. Forest service officials said more resources were on the way.

The firefighting base camp and heli-drop stations were set up inside Fort Huachuca. Helicopters swooped down to haul hundreds of gallons of water from big tubs set up on the grounds of the fort.

Forest service officials said they were aggressively attacking the flames with water and retardant, but they had no boots on the ground at this time.

"We know aircraft do not put out fire, firefighters cutting fire lines do. We're trying to minimize the spread of the fire. That's why we're throwing a lot of water and retardant on this," said Heidi Schewel, a public information officer for the Brown fire.

The plumes of smoke were too close to home for those living and working at Fort Huachuca.

"Not only is it too close to home, it is home. It is on Ft. Huachuca now. This is serious, it's very concerning and a bit alarming. We're keeping a very, very, very close eye on things, it's very personal to us now," said Tanja Linton, a media relations spokeswoman for Fort Huachuca.

Forest service officials said fire managers and crew supervisors spent the day scouting the area. They are working on a plan of attack, and where to send the firefighters and hotshot crews, once they get "boots on the ground." Schewel said firefighter and public safety was their number one concern.

The terrain was too steep and rugged, Schewel said firefighters would have to be flown into the area and dropped off, from there they would have to hike several miles to get to the fire.

"We will have 100 hotshots here tomorrow, plus 30 other firefighters. We don't just want to put people up there, we're coming up with a plan," Schewel said.

Military officials said they were working closely with forest service officials, and would provide any help needed to put this fire out. The fire interrupted training in the Garden Canyon area on Sunday.

"Our first concern is to keep our soldiers safe. We have evacuated soldiers from canyons, and all training on the ranges in Garden Canyon have ceased," Linton said.

More planes are expected to arrive on Tuesday to help fight the flames. Another heli-base will also open up so more water will be available for drops.

Forest service officials said the fire was human caused. Weather is a big concern, with winds expected to move into the area on Wednesday.

There are three hotshot crews deployed here; one in southern Arizona, one in the central part of the state and one up north. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)

There are three hotshot crews deployed here; one in southern Arizona, one in the central part of the state and one up north. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)

Out-of-town hotshot crews are already staged in Arizona, ready to jump on the fire line. There are three hotshot crews deployed here; one in southern Arizona, one in the central part of the state and one up north.

Out-of-town hotshot crews are already staged in Arizona, ready to jump on the fire line. There are three hotshot crews deployed here; one in southern Arizona, one in the central part of the state and one up north.

With summer temperatures at hand and the landscape extremely dry across Arizona, dragging chains, tossing cigarette butts or even having underinflated tires can start fires along state highways. To get ready for fire season, Arizona Department of Transportation crews mow vegetation along highway shoulders in the winter and spring. They remove brush, thin trees and spray fire retardant within the ADOT right-of-way to prevent fires and slow the spread of those that occur. But motorist...More >

With summer temperatures at hand and the landscape extremely dry across Arizona, dragging chains, tossing cigarette butts or even having underinflated tires can start fires along state highways. To get ready for fire season, Arizona Department of Transportation crews mow vegetation along highway shoulders in the winter and spring. They remove brush, thin trees and spray fire retardant within the ADOT right-of-way to prevent fires and slow the spread of those that occur. But motorist...More >

Residents headed through the barricades on Highway 87 early Friday morning to get a look at their property after the Tinder Fire, sparked a week ago near Winslow, tore through communities in northern Arizona and forced their evacuations.

Residents headed through the barricades on Highway 87 early Friday morning to get a look at their property after the Tinder Fire, sparked a week ago near Winslow, tore through communities in northern Arizona and forced their evacuations.

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Meet a former member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who, but for a twist of fate, might have died with his team in the devastating Yarnell Hill Fire. Now he's part of the movie that tells their story.

Meet a former member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who, but for a twist of fate, might have died with his team in the devastating Yarnell Hill Fire. Now he's part of the movie that tells their story.

Fans came out to Harkins Tempe Marketplace from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to see some of the stars walk the red carpet like Josh Brolin, Miles Teller and James Badge Dale. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)

Cast and crew members, along with Arizona firefighters and first responders, will be in attendance at Tempe Marketplace for the red carpet screening of "Only the Brave", the Columbia Pictures movie based on the Granite Mountain Hotshots, on Tuesday night.

Cast and crew members, along with Arizona firefighters and first responders, will be in attendance at Tempe Marketplace for the red carpet screening of "Only the Brave", the Columbia Pictures movie based on the Granite Mountain Hotshots, on Tuesday night.

Even as hundreds of wildland firefighters battle the massive Goodwin Fire burning in Yavapai County south of Prescott, Arizonans' hearts and minds are looking back four years to the wildfire that killed 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots.

It has now been once month since the Yarnell Hill Fire killed 19 Hotshot crew members near Prescott. People all throughout Arizona paid their respects again today. Here in Tucson, the widow of one ofMore >

Here in Tucson, the widow of one of the firefighters spoke publicly for the first time at a fundraiser on the northwest side.More >

Crews report that the Yarnell Hill Fire that reached 8,400 acres is now 100 percent contained. It started on Friday, June 28 just after 5:30 p.m., around three and a half miles west of the small communityMore >